Using near-field communication both for out-of-band pairing and physiological data transfer

ABSTRACT

A method for obtaining physiological data from a medical sensor device includes detecting a proximity of the medical sensor device by an electronic computing device. After the proximity is detected, a message is received from the medical sensor device. A determination is made as to whether the received message includes configuration information for a wireless communication link. When the received message includes the configuration information for the wireless communication link, the wireless communication link is used to receive physiological data from the medical sensor device and the received physiological data is processed at the electronic computing device. When the received message does not include configuration information for the wireless communication link, a determination is made as to whether the received message includes physiological data. When the received message includes the physiological data, the physiological data is processed at the electronic computing device.

BACKGROUND

In a medical setting, one or more physiological sensor devices may beattached to a patient to obtain physiological data for the patient. Oneor more of these physiological sensor devices may be wireless devices,permitting a wireless transmission of physiological data from thephysiological sensor devices to a patient monitor and to an electronicrecords system.

A wireless physiological sensor device may include a transceiver,commonly known as a radio, to transmit physiological data using standardwireless communication protocols, such as Bluetooth. However, the costof a radio is often excessive for a low cost physiological sensordevice.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods forobtaining physiological data from a medical sensor device. In oneaspect, a proximity of the medical sensor device is detected by anelectronic computing device. After the proximity is detected, a messageis received from the medical sensor device. A determination is made asto whether the received message includes configuration information for awireless communication link. In response to determining that thereceived message includes the configuration information for the wirelesscommunication link, the wireless communication link is used to receivephysiological data from the medical sensor device and the receivedphysiological data is processed at the electronic computing device. Inresponse to determining that the received message does not includeconfiguration information for the wireless communication link, adetermination is made as to whether the received message includesphysiological data. In response to determining that the received messageincludes the physiological data, the physiological data is processed atthe electronic computing device.

In another aspect, an electronic computing device comprises a processingunit and system memory. The system memory includes instructions thatwhen executed by the processing unit cause the electronic computingdevice to detect a proximity of a medical sensor device. When theproximity is detected, a message is received from the medical sensordevice. A determination is made as to whether the message includesinformation to configure a wireless communication link. In response todetermining that the received message includes the information toconfigure the wireless communication link, the wireless communicationlink is used to receive physiological data from the medical sensordevice and the received physiological data is processed. In response todetermining that the received message does not include the informationto configure the wireless communication link, a determination is made asto whether the received message includes physiological data. In responseto determining that the received message includes the physiologicaldata, the received physiological data is processed.

In yet another aspect, a computer-readable data storage medium comprisesinstructions that, when executed by a processing unit of a patientmonitoring device, cause the patient monitoring device to detect aproximity of a medical sensor device. The proximity of the medicalsensor device is detected when a determination is made that a distancebetween the medical sensor device and the patient monitoring device isless than a predetermined threshold. After the proximity of the medicalsensor device is detected, a message is received from the medical sensordevice. A determination is made as to whether the received messageincludes configuration information for a wireless communication link. Inresponse to determining that the received message includes theconfiguration information for the wireless communication link, aBluetooth connection is established with the medical sensor device,physiological data is received via the Bluetooth connection, thephysiological data is sent to the processing unit of the patientmonitoring device and the physiological data is displayed on the patientmonitoring device. In response to determining that the received messagedoes not include the configuration information for the wirelesscommunication link, a determination is made as to whether the receivedmessage includes physiological data. In response to determining that thereceived message includes the physiological data, the physiological datais extracted from the received message, the physiological data is sentto the processing unit of the patient monitoring device and thephysiological data is displayed on the patient monitoring device.

The details of one or more techniques are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, objects, andadvantages of these techniques will be apparent from the description,drawings, and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example system that supports the use of near-fieldcommunication for both out-of-band pairing and physiological datatransfer.

FIG. 2 shows an example communication scheme between a physiologicalsensor device and the patient monitor device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate communication scheme between a physiologicalsensor device and the patient monitor device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an example format of data received at the patient monitordevice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an example method for using near-field communications forpairing and physiological data transfer.

FIG. 6 shows example physical components of the patient monitor deviceof FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to a system and methods for usingnear field communication (NFC) for either communicating pairinginformation for a wireless technology or for transmitting physiologicaldata from a wireless physiological sensor device. NFC is a set ofstandards for establishing communication between wireless devices bytouching the wireless devices together or bringing the wireless devicesinto close proximity with each other. Non-standards-based NFC solutionsmay also be used.

Using the systems and methods, when physiological sensor devices thatare attached to a patient include a transceiver, such as a radio, NFCmay communicate pairing information between a patient monitor device anda physiological sensor device establish a wireless connection between aphysiological sensor device and the patient monitor device. When thewireless connection is established, physiological data and patientidentification information may be transmitted via the wirelessconnection from the physiological sensor device to the patient monitordevice. When a physiological sensor device does not include a radio,physiological data from the physiological sensor device may betransmitted directly via NFC to the patient monitor device. Using thesystems and methods, a determination is automatically made as to whetherNFC received data is physiological data or pairing data.

In addition, patient identification may be transmitted from the patientmonitor device to the physiological sensor device. Subsequently, thepatient identification may be transmitted to a different patient monitordevice or mobile electronic device such as a personal data assistance(PDA), cellular phone, laptop, tablet, or similar devices.

Various methods of proximity detection may be used to determine whetherthe wireless devices are within close proximity of each other. Someexample methods of proximity detection include received signal strengthindication (RSSI) methods such as standard Bluetooth, Bluetooth LowEnergy (BTLE) and WiFi. Other example methods of proximity detectioninclude differential methods such as differential global positioning(GPS), ultra-wideband (UWB), infrared (IR), infrared data association(IRDA) and NFC. Proximity detection methods such as IRDA, UWB and NFCtypically use both standard and proprietary data transport mechanisms.Proximity detection may be wireless or proximity detection may use aphysical connection. In examples, proximity detection may occur when twodevices are within two inches of each other, although other distancesmay be used.

FIG. 1 shows an example system 100 in which NFC may be used. The examplesystem 100 includes physiological sensor devices 102, 104, a patientmonitor device 106, a gateway device 108 and an electronic medicalrecords (EMR) system 110. In this disclosure, the EMR system 100 may bean electronic health record (EHR) system. The physiological sensordevices 102, 104 monitor physiological data from a patient (not shown).An example of physiological sensor devices 102, 104 is a thermometer.Other examples may include an oxygen saturation (SPO2) sensor, an ECGsensor, a blood pressure sensor, an ophthalmoscope, etc. In system 100,physiological sensor device 102 is a wireless thermometer and does notinclude a radio device. Physiological sensor device 104 is an ECG sensorand does include a radio device. More than two physiological sensordevices may be used. In this disclosure, an NFC subsystem is notconsidered to be a radio device.

The patient monitor device 106 receives physiological data fromphysiological sensor devices 102, 104 and displays the receivedphysiological data on a display screen on the patient monitor device106. The patient monitor device 106 may also send the receivedphysiological data to the EMR system 110. An example of the patientmonitor device 106 is the Welch Allyn 1500 Patient Monitor from WelchAllyn, Inc. of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. Other examples are possible.

In the example system 100, the patient monitor device 106 includes thegateway device 108. The gateway device 108 is a component of the patientmonitor device 106 that receives data from physiological sensor devices102, 104, parses the data and determines whether the data representspairing information or physiological data. When the data representsphysiological data, the physiological data is typically displayed on thepatient monitor device 106 and also sent to the EMR system 110. When thedata represents pairing information (wireless configuration data), thegateway typically extracts configuration data from the pairing data.Using a wireless communication protocol, a wireless connection isestablished between physiological sensor device 104 and patient monitordevice 106. After the wireless connection is established, physiologicaldata (for example ECG data) is transmitted from physiological sensordevice 104 to patient monitor device 106.

In operation, the gateway device 108 periodically transmits a signalthat can be detected by a sensor device, for example by physiologicalsensor device 102, using NFC. When physiological sensor device 102 comeswithin range of patient monitor device 106, patient monitor device 106detects the presence of physiological sensor device 102. In examples,patient monitor device 106 detects the presence of physiological sensordevice 102 when NFC circuits in physiological sensor device 106load-modulate the signal transmitted from gateway device 108. Thegateway device 108 then transmits a continuous-wave signal tophysiological sensor device 102. In examples, the continuous-wave signalis inductively coupled to the physiological sensor device 102. In otherexamples, a range between physiological sensor device 102 and patientmonitor device 106 may be detected via signal strength or via time delayof arrival.

In examples, the wireless connection is established using the Bluetoothcommunication standard. When Bluetooth is used, pairing information istransmitted via NFC using an out-of-band Bluetooth communicationchannel. When the wireless connection is established, physiological datais transmitted over the wireless connection using an in-band Bluetoothcommunication channel. In other examples, the wireless connection may beestablished using a personal area network (PAN) or a body area network(BAN). When the PAN or BAN is used, the physiological data istransmitted over a PAN or BAN wireless connection. Pairing informationmay also be transmitted using other methods, as identified in theBluetooth 2.1+EDR standard.

The EMR system 110 is an electronic medical records system. The EMRsystem 110 typically receives and stores data from patient monitordevice 106 and from other patient monitor devices in the example system100. The EMR system 110 also stores patient identification and othermedical record information.

FIG. 2 shows an example communication scheme 200 between patient monitordevice 106 and physiological sensor device 102. As discussed,physiological sensor device 102 is a wireless thermometer and does notinclude a radio device. Therefore, for the example communication scheme200, the physiological sensor device uses NFC to send physiological datato the patient monitor device 106.

The patient monitor device 106 transmits an initiator signal 202. Theinitiator signal can be detected by the physiological sensor device 102when the physiological sensor device 102 is within range of the patientmonitor device. In examples, the range may be from 0.5 inches to 3inches. Other ranges are possible. The initiator signal may betransmitted periodically to save power or the initiator signal may be acontinuous-wave signal. When the initiator signal is transmittedperiodically, the initiator signal is typically a small pulse.

When the physiological sensor device 102 comes within range of thepatient monitor device 106, the physiological sensor device 102 sendsresponse to initiator signal 204 to the patient monitor device 106. Whenthe physiological sensor device 102 is configured for NFC usingcard-emulation mode, the response to initiator signal 204 is typically aload-modulated signal. Because wireless sensor devices are typicallypower limited, examples in this disclosure are oriented towards NFCusing card-emulation mode. However, this disclosure is not limited tocard-emulation mode, and other NFC modes, for example peer-to-peer mode,may be used.

When the patient monitor device 106 receives the response to initiatorsignal 204, the patient monitor device 106, having determined acard-emulation protocol, sends an un-modulated signal 206 tophysiological sensor device 102. The un-modulated signal 206 istypically a continuous wave signal. In examples, the un-modulated signal206 is inductively coupled to circuitry in the physiological sensordevice 102.

As a result of receiving the inductively coupled un-modulated signal206, the physiological sensor device 102 load modulates the un-modulatedsignal 206 with physiological data from the physiological sensor device102. The physiological sensor device 102 then sends the physiologicaldata via load modulated physiological data signal 208 to the patientmonitor device 106. An NFC receiver in the patient monitor device 106converts the load modulated physiological data signal 208 into a digitalsignal for processing at the patient monitor device 106, as explainedlater herein.

In examples, physiological sensor device 102 may also include patientidentification information in the load modulated physiological datasignal 208. The patient identification permits physiological sensordevice 102 to transmit patient context information to any patientmonitor device or mobile electronic device to which the physiologicalsensor device 102 is proximal. In examples, physiological sensor device102 may have received the patient identification information frompatient monitor device 106, for example during an earlier connectionwhen physiological sensor device 102 was proximal to patient monitordevice 106.

FIG. 3 shows an example communication scheme 300 between patient monitordevice 106 and physiological sensor device 104. As discussed,physiological sensor device 104 is a wireless ECG device and includes aradio device. Therefore, for example communication scheme 300, thephysiological sensor device 104 uses NFC to establish a wirelessconnection, typically a Bluetooth connection, between the physiologicalsensor device 104 and patient monitor device 106. Physiological data issent from physiological sensor device 104 to patient monitor device 106over the wireless connection. In examples, as discussed, patientidentification information from physiological sensor device 104 may beincluded with the physiological data.

As discussed, the patient monitor device 106 transmits an initiatorsignal, in this example initiator signal 302. Initiator signal 302 mayinclude capability information for the patient monitor device 106, suchas supported protocols. When the physiological sensor device 104 comeswithin range of the patient monitor device 106, the physiological sensordevice 104 sends response to initiator signal 304 to the patient monitordevice 106. The response to initiator signal 304 confirms to the patientmonitor device 106 that there is a proximal device with which to connectand includes any handshakes to negotiate the NFC protocol. The responseto the initiator signal may be load modulated. A protocol forestablishing the NFC connection is defined in ISO standards for NFC, forexample ISO 14443 A-1, A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, ISO 15693-3, -2, -1, andISO 18092.

When the patient monitor device 106 receives the response to initiatorsignal 304, the patient monitor device 106, sends an un-modulated signal306 to physiological sensor device 104. The un-modulated signal istypically a continuous-wave signal. In examples, the un-modulated signal306 is inductively coupled to circuitry in the physiological sensordevice 104.

As a result of receiving the inductively coupled un-modulated signal306, the physiological sensor device 104 load modulates the un-modulatedsignal 306 with radio configuration data from the physiological sensordevice 104 and sends the load-modulated configuration data signal 308 topatient monitor 106. The load-modulated configuration data is used toinitiate a wireless connection, typically a Bluetooth connection,between the physiological sensor device 104 and the patient monitordevice 106. Other wireless connections may be used. Wireless linkconfiguration data 310 is sent between patient monitor device 106 andphysiological sensor device 104.

The physiological sensor device 104 then sends physiological data 312 tothe patient monitor device 106 using the wireless connection. Asexplained later herein, when the patient monitor device 106 receives thephysiological data 312 from the physiological sensor device 104, thegateway 108 parses the physiological data 312. The gateway 108 parsesdata received from physiological sensor devices 102, 104 to determinewhether the data is physiological data, out-of-band pairing data or someother information, such as a link to the patient's EMR, a link todownload new software.

FIG. 4 shows an example format of data 400 received at patient monitordevice 106 from physiological sensor devices 102, 104. The example data400 includes a mode byte 402, a data definition field 404, a data field406 and a CRC 408.

The example mode byte 402 defines whether the data 400 comprises adirect transmission of the physiological data 312, whether the data 400includes out-of-band pairing information, or other information. When thedata 400 comprises the direct transmission of the physiological data,the mode byte 402 is set to a constant numerical value that representsdirect transmission of physiological data. When the data 400 includesout-of-band pairing information, the mode byte 402 is set to a constantnumerical value that indicates that the data 400 includes theout-of-band pairing information.

When the mode byte 402 is set to the value that represents the directtransmission of physiological data, the example data definition fields404 defines a type of data that is being transmitted. For example, iftemperature is being transmitted, the data definition fields 404 mayinclude one field that represents temperature and another field thatrepresents units of temperature. As another example, if SPO2 is beingtransmitted, the data definition fields 404 may include one field thatrepresents SPO2 and another field that represents units of SPO2. Thedata definition fields may also describe the length of the data field.

The data field 406 includes the actual physiological data beingtransmitted. For example, if temperature is being transmitted, the datafield 406 may include a byte having a numerical value of 98.6.

The CRC byte 408 includes a cyclic redundancy code value for bytes 402through 406. When the data 400 is received at the patient monitor device106, the patient monitor device 106 performs a CRC check on bytes 402through 406. The patient monitor device 106 then compares the result ofthe CRC check with the CRC byte 408 to validate the integrity of thedata in bytes 402 through 406.

In addition to using NFC with medical sensor devices and patient monitordevices, mobile devices, for example smart telephones including the HTCOne X, may include an NFC transceiver. A clinician, for example a nurse,may use NFC in conjunction with a smart telephone to obtainphysiological data from a medical sensor device and from a patientmonitor device. In an example workflow, a clinician, for example anurse, may touch the smart telephone to an ID bracelet on a patient.Touching the smart telephone to the ID bracelet may start a softwareapplication on the smart telephone that displays an EMR record for thepatient. Using a wireless thermometer with NFC, the nurse may take thepatient's temperature. When the nurse touches the thermometer with thesmart telephone, temperature data for the patient is transmitted via NFCfrom the thermometer to the smart telephone. In examples, other medicalsensor devices may transmit physiological data via NFC to a smarttelephone.

In other example workflows, the patient monitor device 106 may includeone or more medical sensor devices. The medical sensor devices may behard-wired to the patient monitor device 106. For example, the patientmonitor device 106 may include a medical sensor device for obtainingnon-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) for a patient. A blood pressure cuffmay be physically connected to the patient monitor device 106 via tube.Other medical sensor devices that may be physically connected to thepatient monitor device 106 include a thermometer, glucometer, ECG,ETCO2, and a SPO2 sensor device. In one example workflow, a nurse orother clinician may use NFC in conjunction with a mobile electronicdevice, such as a smart telephone, to obtain physiological data for apatient directly from the patient monitor device 106. In this exampleworkflow, when the smart telephone comes within a proximity of thepatient monitor device 106 or physically touches the patient monitordevice 106, physiological data stored at the patient monitor device 106may be transmitted via NFC to the smart telephone. The transmission ofthe physiological data may include patient identification informationand connection information for an EMR for the patient. Including theconnection information may result in the EMR being automatically loadedon the smart telephone. A clinician identifier stored in the smarttelephone may be appended to the EMR to provide accounting informationof the clinician interaction with the patient.

FIG. 5 shows an example flowchart for a method 500 for using NFC forboth out-of-band pairing and physiological data transfer. Thephysiological data is obtained from a wireless medical sensor device,for example from physiological sensor device 102.

At operation 502, at a patient monitor device, for example patientmonitor device 106, a proximity of the medical sensor device is detectedvia NFC. In examples, the proximity may be detected by moving themedical sensor device within a predetermined range, for example twoinches, of the patient monitor device 106 or by having the medicalsensor device make contact with the patient monitor device 106. Inexamples, the patient monitor device 106 may be a hand-held device andthe patient monitor device 106 may be moved to a proximity of themedical sensor device. The medical sensor device is a sensor device thatobtains physiological data from a patient. Examples of the medicalsensor device include a wireless thermometer, a wireless SPO2 sensor, awireless ECG device, etc.

The patient monitor device 106 transmits initiation signals to thesurrounding area. When the medical sensor device comes into theproximity of the patient monitor device 106, the medical sensor devicereceives an initiation signal. At operation 504, after the proximity ofthe medical sensor device is detected, the patient monitor device 106receives a message, via NFC, from the medical sensor device. The messagecomprises a response to the initiation signal. In examples, the messagemay include physiological data from the medical sensor device or themessage may include configuration data used to set-up a wirelesscommunication link between the patient monitor device 106 and themedical sensor device.

At operation 506, a determination is made as to whether the messageincludes the wireless communication link configuration data. Thedetermination is made by evaluating mode byte 402 in the received data.The mode byte indicates with the received message includes physiologicaldata or configuration data. The configuration data constitutes pairinginformation for the wireless communication link.

When a determination is made that the message includes the wirelesscommunication link configuration data, at operation 508, a wirelesscommunication link is established between the patient monitor device 106and the medical sensor device. The wireless communication link is set-upvia a protocol associated with the wireless communication link. Forexample, if the wireless communication link is set up using theBluetooth communication standard, a Bluetooth address of a radio on thepatient monitor device 106 is sent to the medical sensor device and aBluetooth address of a radio on the medical sensor device is sent topatient monitor device 106. Using NFC, a wireless connection isestablished between the patient monitor device 106 and the medicalsensor device using the Bluetooth addresses. A link key is randomlygenerated and communicated between the patient monitor device 106 andthe medical sensor device and a secure connection is established.

At operation 510, physiological data from the medical sensor device isreceived at the patient monitor device 106 via the established wirelesscommunication link. Examples of physiological data include a temperatureof a patient, an SPO2 reading for the patient and ECG data for thepatient.

At operation 512, the received physiological data is processed at thepatient monitor device. Processing the physiological data includesparsing, storing and displaying the received physiological data at thepatient monitor device 106. In examples, the received physiological datamay also be transmitted to an EMR system, for example EMR system 110,for further processing and storage.

At operation 514, the wireless connection between the medical sensordevice and the patient monitor device 106 is broken. Breaking thewireless connection also breaks a pairing between the medical sensordevice and the patient monitor device 106. Breaking the pairing preventsthe medical sensor device from transmitting data to a wrong patientmonitoring device, if, for example, the medical sensor device is movedto a new location. For continuous monitoring, as long as a continuousphysiological signal is detected, operation 514 may not be executed.

At operation 506, when a determination is made that the received messagedoes not include the wireless communications link configuration data, atoperation 516, a determination is made as to whether the receivedmessage includes physiological data from the medical sensor device.

When it is determined at operation 516 that the received messageincludes the physiological data from the medical sensor device, atoperation 518 the physiological data is processed at the patient monitordevice 106. The processing of the physiological data includes parsingthe data definition field 404 of the received message to determine thetype of physiological data received. The processing of the physiologicaldata also includes storing and displaying the physiological data at thepatient monitor device 106 and transmitting the physiological data tothe EMR system 110. Breaking the connection between the medical sensordevice and the patient monitor device 106 is typically not requiredbecause an NFC link between the medical sensor device and the patientmonitor device 106 can only exist when the medical sensor device and thepatient monitor device 106 are proximal. NFC does not support a conceptof a communication session as, for example, with a Bluetooth radio.

FIG. 6 illustrates example physical components of the patient monitordevice 106. As illustrated in the example of FIG. 6, the patient monitordevice 106 includes at least one central processing unit (“CPU”) 602, asystem memory 608, and a system bus 622 that couples the system memory608 to the CPU 602. The system memory 608 includes a random accessmemory (“RAM”) 610 and a read-only memory (“ROM”) 612. A basicinput/output system contains the basic routines that help to transferinformation between elements within the patient monitor device 106, suchas during startup, is stored in the ROM 612. The patient monitor device106 further includes a mass storage device 614. The mass storage device614 is able to store software instructions and data.

The mass storage device 614 is connected to the CPU 602 through a massstorage controller (not shown) connected to the bus 622. The massstorage device 614 and its associated computer-readable data storagemedia provide non-volatile, non-transitory storage for the patientmonitor device 106. Although the description of computer-readable datastorage media contained herein refers to a mass storage device, such asa hard disk or solid state disk, it should be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that computer-readable data storage media can be anyavailable non-transitory, physical device or article of manufacture fromwhich the central display station can read data and/or instructions.

Computer-readable data storage media include volatile and non-volatile,removable and non-removable media implemented in any method ortechnology for storage of information such as computer-readable softwareinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Exampletypes of computer-readable data storage media include, but are notlimited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid statememory technology, CD-ROMs, digital versatile discs (“DVDs”), otheroptical storage media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which canbe used to store the desired information and which can be accessed bythe patient monitor device 106.

According to various embodiments of the invention, the patient monitordevice 106 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to remote network devices through the network 620, such as alocal network, the Internet, or another type of network. The patientmonitor device 106 may connect to the network 620 through a networkinterface unit 604 connected to the bus 622. It should be appreciatedthat the network interface unit 604 may also be utilized to connect toother types of networks and remote computing systems. The patientmonitor device 106 also includes an input/output controller 606 forreceiving and processing input from a number of other devices, includinga keyboard, a mouse, a touch user interface display screen, or anothertype of input device. Similarly, the input/output controller 606 mayprovide output to a touch user interface display screen, a printer, orother type of output device.

As mentioned briefly above, the mass storage device 614 and the RAM 610of the patient monitor device 106 can store software instructions anddata. The software instructions include an operating system 618 suitablefor controlling the operation of the patient monitor device 106. Themass storage device 614 and/or the RAM 610 also store softwareinstructions, that when executed by the CPU 602, cause the patientmonitor device 106 to provide the functionality of the patient monitordevice 106 discussed in this document. For example, the mass storagedevice 614 and/or the RAM 610 can store software instructions that, whenexecuted by the CPU 602, cause the patient monitor device 106 to displayreceived physiological data on the display screen of the patient monitordevice 106.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to be limiting. Variousmodifications and changes may be made to the embodiments described abovewithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for obtaining physiological data from aphysiological sensor device, the method comprising: transmitting aninitiator signal to the physiological sensor device; receiving aresponse to the initiator signal from the physiological sensor device;upon receiving the response to the initiator signal, determining acard-emulation protocol, the card-emulation protocol including nearfield communication; using near field communication, transmitting anun-modulated signal to the physiological sensor device; receivingload-modulated data from the physiological sensor device, theload-modulated data including physiological data; and converting theload-modulated data into a digital signal for processing using a nearfield communication receiver.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the initiator signal includes capability information for apatient monitoring device.
 3. The method according to claim 2, whereinthe capability information includes supported protocols.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein receiving the response to the initiatorsignal occurs when the physiological sensor device is within a range ofthe patient monitoring device.
 5. The method according to claim 4,wherein the range is no greater than 3 inches.
 6. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the initiator signal is a continuous-wave signal. 7.The method according to claim 1, wherein the initiator signal is apulse.
 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receivingtemperature data from a wireless thermometry device.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the un-modulated signal is inductivelycoupled to circuitry in the physiological sensor device.